PREMIERSHIP ruckman Darren Jolly is off contract this season but Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes he could play for another two years.

Jolly, 31, must continue to manage a knee issue that has hampered him in recent seasons but the recruitment of Quinten Lynch from West Coast and the expected addition of another veteran ruckman, Ben Hudson through the rookie draft, will ease his burden.

Jolly played 20 matches last season, up four on 2011, and Buckley says the key next season will be to ensure the 228-game veteran is in prime condition come September, when the Pies are again expected to be a premiership threat.

''We definitely will manage him through the season. I think that is definitely becoming more and more prevalent, … to be in the right shape at the right time is the important thing,'' Buckley said on Wednesday.

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''We need to win enough games to qualify and clearly that is our major focus … to qualify for finals, after that you want to qualify top four to give yourself the best chance.

''Then you want to have all your players in great shape for September. That's a logistical nightmare but that is something we want to manage our key players through.''

Jolly was integral to the Magpies' 2010 premiership and remains vital to a list Buckley says is in better shape this year than last.

''He [Jolly] stood up and has stood up considerably well at his time at Collingwood and throughout his career. He has one year to run on his contract but I wouldn't discount his ability to play another one or two beyond. He has come back in great shape today,'' Buckley said.

Lynch is expected to be used more as a forward than as a ruckman. But his time on the ball is expected to deliver greater results than Chris Dawes last season.

Lynch is also looking forward to partnering Travis Cloke inside the attacking 50, saying the Eagles felt Cloke was arguably the best key forward in the league.

Hudson will provide the style of game Buckley craves from his big men. ''Ben plays the game in a real aggressive manner. We want all of our big units to be animals. We want them to have their teammates walk taller around them,'' he said.

The Magpies will head to Utah next week for an altitude training camp but five players will remain behind. Tyson Goldsack (ankle) and Dale Thomas (ankle) have had surgery, Nick Maxwell and Alan Didak have newborn babies, while Andrew Krakouer again has US visa problems.